Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro – Do They Really Work?
You know the dream. You’re in Beijing, staring down a menu full of characters that may as well be hieroglyphics. You want dim sum, you want it fast, and you want to avoid pointing like a tourist. What if you could just… hear the translation straight into your ear?
Well, Samsung says: ‘Yes, you can.’ Enter the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, bundled with Galaxy AI. Real-time Mandarin translation, live in your ear. It sounds like sci-fi – but does it actually work, or is this just another overhyped “AI feature” that nobody really uses?
Here’s the deal:
The buds themselves aren’t doing the heavy lifting. Your Samsung phone is. You’ll need one of the latest Galaxy devices (S24, Fold, Flip – you get the picture). You’ll also need a data connection if you want it to be slick. The Buds are just the mic and speaker, but together, the setup feels pretty seamless.
How it works:
- Listening Mode: Chinese goes in, English comes out, right into your ear.
- Conversation Mode: You speak English, your phone spits out Mandarin. They reply, and their words go back into your ear in English. Simple.
Bonus: the phone also shows the translation – characters, pinyin, and English. For the language-curious, it’s like a free mini-lesson every time.
The reality check:
We tried it in actual situations. Ordering food. Asking for directions. Chatting with a Chinese-speaking colleague.
- Accuracy: 8/10. Everyday phrases are bang on. Slang or dialects? Not so much.
- Speed: 1–2 seconds online. 2–3 seconds offline. Enough of a pause to notice, but not a dealbreaker.
- Noise: Handles background chatter well, but stick it in a loud mall and it struggles.
- On-screen help: Genuinely useful. You’ll surprise yourself at how quickly you start recognising words.
The fine print:
- Only one person gets the earbuds. The other has to listen via your phone speaker. Not exactly subtle in a crowded restaurant.
- Offline mode works but loses nuance.
- Mandarin only. Don’t expect it to nail every accent from Sichuan to Xinjiang.
So, is it a game-changer? Is it worth the dosh?
Look, here’s the thing. They’re not perfect, but they’re clever. They’re not going to replace years of study and hard graft with a language book – if you think they are, you’re dreaming. What they will do is get you dinner, get you directions, and get you across that cultural divide. If you’re already in the Samsung ecosystem, this is no gimmick. It’s a proper tool. It’s a bridge, not a crutch. And in a world where connection counts, that’s a tick. The price? About 200 US bucks – provided you’ve already stumped up for the phone. Verdict? If you’re in tourism or travel, it’s worth it. And yes, the sound is excellent if all you want to do is play music. Just don’t try deciphering Chinese opera – even Samsung can’t help you there.
